Animal Shelters: Post Data Online

Thursday

Apr 4, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Senate Bill 872 would require that all shelters, public and private, collect that data each month — and then post the information online.

The operators of a well-run animal shelter know how many dogs and cats are taken in, adopted, kept in pens or euthanized.Senate Bill 872 would require that all shelters, public and private, collect that data each month — and then post the information online. It's a sensible law intended to provide the governments, taxpayers and donors who support animal shelters with information they need to determine whether the facilities they support are properly managed."Many facilities keep limited data on the disposition of animals and do not make information available to the public when requested," says a legislative staff analysis of SB 872. "This makes it difficult for state and local governments to understand the current state of shelters and rescue animals as they craft ordinances and legislation, provide funding resources and determine best practices for the facilities."Small, private shelters might encounter some difficulty complying with the bill's provisions but, again, this information should be routinely compiled and published. Perhaps local-government agencies could partner with the private shelters, if needed, to provide an online presence for the data.The bill's chief sponsor — Sen. Joseph Abruzzo, D-Wellington — has two goals for the legislation:Promote consistent and routine gathering and publication of information.Demonstrate, according to the legislative analysis, "that additional efforts must be made to find homes for homeless and unwanted animals in an effort to reduce or eliminate the euthanasia of adoptable dogs and cats."

ANIMAL HOMESAchieving the first goal should be relatively simple.Few Floridians are likely dispute the value of making additional efforts to find homes for homeless and unwanted animals, creating a statewide strategy for pursuing those aims would be difficult — and, in light of differences between counties, might not be advisable.The bill was approved by the Senate Agriculture Committee 6-0 on March 18.Whatever the ideal solutions in a diverse state, SB 872 represents a good first step by recognizing both the need for data and the value of making that information public.